From Joseph Uchenna, in Makurdi
The Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has declared that he is not afraid of the Rainbow Coalition, averring that it is a mere gang up by certain individuals against his 2027 re-election bid.
The Rainbow Coalition is said to be headed by Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Speaking with newsmen recently Austin Agada who said he is the national secretary of the coalition had threatened that they would teach Governor Alia a lesson in 2027.
Responding to his comments during an interaction with Journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi, the Governor said he is aware and anticipated the gang up, maintaining that the entrenched interest is because is he is reforming the state.
The Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary Kula Tersoo said a reformer has no friend because he has ideas.
According to him, the Governor is not distracted but remains focused more than ever before to deliver democratic dividends to the people.
He said beneficiaries of the administration including workers, narket women, youth and ths masses aporeciate his good works and would re-electt him.
He Said: “people say there is a coalition, it is not strange. Austin Agada came to say they will teach the Governor a lesson. This is a man who failed to win his polling unit during the last election in 2023. He even engaged in anti-party activity and sold his vote to Senator Abba Moro of PDP and was lated suspended by his ward executive.
“People speak as if they are God. Governor Alia is with the masses of Benue State. Before becoming governor, as a priest, he was representative of the people and knew their challenges. Let the people come put and reject him”.
On the lingering rift between the Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Sen George Akume, Kula insisted that the Governor is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the state and cannot bow down to an individual but the masses.
He recalled the incident of primaries which suggested that the Presidency had instructed that all elected representatives should be given nomination, he emphasized that the state has its political peculiarities as it respects rotational arrangement as well as performance of the individual, adding, “‘the Governor is a product of rotational arrangement”.
Commenting on the governor’s achievements, the spokesman stressed that the manner the baton was handed to him by his predecessor was terrible, highlighting that the state capital is experiencing urban renewal for the first timd after so many years.
He also said rural roads construction is ongoing, Intimating that the local government chairmen have been mandated to construct asphalted roads in their domain.
Kula added that there is a joint partnership between the state government and local government councils wherein the former contributes 60 percent and the latter 40 percent to embark on roads construction.
He mentioned the renovation of 4 primary health care centers have been renovated in all the 23 local government areas, construction of 250 million naira Food Center Project in Akpa, Otukpo LGA, employment of over 9,000 teachers amongst other achievements of the Governor, noting that Benue people have regained their dignity..
Asked about the state wage bill of the state, Kula said it fluctuates, disclosing that the state generates 2 bilkion naira as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR announcing that modalities are in place to offset all pension and salary arrears of State and local government staff
